BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – As they grieve the loss of their seven year old boy, Alexavier Torres-Santiago’s mother and stepfather are now struggling to find a home for their surviving family.

Torres-Santiago died during a blaze at their home on Filmore Avenue on Buffalo’s East Side Sunday morning. The cause of the deadly fire is still under investigation.

He was a student at the Frank A. Sedita Academy.

His principal, Dr. Wanda Schoenfeld said, “He just enjoyed life and enjoyed being here and he was just such a postivie child.”

His four siblings are also in Buffalo school system and the school department is hoping to raise money for the family to help with burial costs and a new place to live.

Superintendent Pamela Brown said, “We just want to do the best that we possibly can to help them through this tragedy.”

Torres-Santiago and his family moved to Buffalo from Puerto Rico in October.

English is not his family’s first language but his principal, Dr. Wanda Schoenfeld said he was learning quickly.

She explained, “He had such a zest for learning, he showed me his notebook which I gave to his mom the other day that had all the math he had learned, showing me diagrams of very detailed pictures of the heart of the lungs of the brain and how much he knew about it scientifically.”

The school’s social worker Fabiola Friot told News4, the family has struggled to fit in to the area and now they are lost without a home and without Alex.

Contributions to the Benefit Fund for Alexavier Torres-Santiage can be sent to:

Account # 9864160693

M&T Bank, 130 Grant Street

Buffalo, NY 14216.

The family is also in need of furniture. Those items can be dropped off between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at:

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